TURNTABLE LAB

40 Thieves
Beats in Space EP

diverse disco edits

Crazy collection of edits from SF's 40 Thieves. These edits were first premiered on Tim Sweeney's Beats In Space radio show last year (thus the title of the EP) and have finally found their way onto vinyl thanks to the dudes at Rong. The sound is kind of out there, with the main track going for a a lo-fi drum machine, synth, sample chop style ("Yanks Abroad(1)") reminiscent of Malcolm McLaren, the other going for more or a traditional disco style ("Love To Shake It Baby(2)"), and lastly an italo/proto-house style ("Click-Naif(3)").
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
rong + related / new disco / cosmic / edits - new arrivals / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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40 Thieves
Don't Turn It Off 12"

sexy new disco with subtle acid bass touches

40 Thieves' cool and sexy disco track "Don't Turn It Off" was originally put out on Permanent Vacation last year, but the jam was so nice NY's Brennan Green imprint had to get a piece of the action for the remix on Chinatown. His version adds a moody New York touch to the SF original, with cosmic arpeggiator synths and subtle acid bass touches. He also keeps Qzen's vocals in place, which happen to sound sexy as ever over this version. Limited pressing on one sided deep maroon vinyl.

reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
rong + related / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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Lee Douglas
Black Disco, Vol.2 EP

Brooklyn's Lee Douglas is probably best known for his amazing new disco productions and remixes (ahem, on Rong and DFA) more than he is for his edits, but that doesn't mean he can't cut it up with the best of 'em. Here he is representing on the second installment of Lovefingers' Black Disco series with that straight disco fire that's an excellent edition to your crate. Setting of the A-side at 45RPM's is the sensual disco sounds of "Cum N' Go(1)" complete with hot Spanish guitars and plenty of sexy "oohs" and "aahs" to get a steamy mood set. Play this one out till the break and be rewarded by a hype spaced-out breakdown. Flip the record (and don't forget to change speed to 33 1/3) and check the straight ahead disco boogie sounds of "Hide N' Seek(2)." Feeling the grown and sexy mood on this one. "Fuego (3)" seals the deal on a crazy cosmic foot-stompin' tip. Epic!
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
rong + related / re-edits - disco + italo + cosmic + rockish / re-edits / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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Prince of Dance Music
The True Story of House Music EP

Rong is back, remixing the 1989 Nu Groove classic "The True Story of House Music." First up, "The New Age of Faith(1)" is a slow burner, with an almost soundtrack quality to it. Mellow, yet deep, we are thrown into a dreamland journey here - a great track for warming up the floors with. Next up, "The New Age Of Faith (Act 1 The Sea: Birth, Act 2 The Land: Life, Act 3 The Stars Faith In Heaven)(2)" really sounds like a play- with no beats, and different elements of the track appearing and disappearing. Last up, "Music (I’m So Alone) (3)" is a classic early 90's sounding house joint, with an old school male vocal layed on top of old school beats, and a dark bassline. Gotta love the "feeed meeee bass" sample, as well as the SUPER old school keys in there. Rong does it again!
reviewed by Alison Tara

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rong + related

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Rong Music
Bits, Beats & Breaks Sampler EP

This record has a gang of chunky tripped out beats that will appeal to almost everyone who takes a listen. There's tuff breaks, smooth downtempo, dirty disco, and house beats. These sound like track ideas that just never got finished, so they pressed 'em as is. Doubles are probably needed to extend some of these cuts out a little, or get your quick mix on and do something creative. Side A starts with "Bunker Beat(1)," an uptempo broken beat jam with a dirty bass line and some reversed vocal samples. "Orange" is pumpin house beat that would sound progressive if it weren't for the thick ass beat and old school hand claps. "Mike's Monkey(2)" is an insane combo of b-boy breaks, brazilian cuica noises, and weird digital feedback. With a ton of clever beat drops and stops, the track keeps getting stranger and stranger but never loses its funky edge. The B-side takes a more downtempo approach with two really nice warm beats. "Tregay(3)" is a dubbed-out beat sounding kinda like Zeb without the middle eastern influence. "Slow and Low(4)" is probably the only full song on here, clocking in at six and a half minutes, and it's a keeper. Buttery downtempo with lots of dubby keys and chords, strange atmospheric samples, and a head-nodding beat. The final cut is called "Interlude" and could be used for just that, breaking up your set with a quirky chopped beat with tons of reverb on a percussive tabla loop. This is a cool record which any creative DJ should find some use for. And this most likely this won't be available for easy download, so all you Serato geeks who think they can mix without cue points and on-screen tempo displays may actually have to carry these on vinyl. Aww poor things...
reviewed by SABO

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rong + related

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Scotty Coats & Wes The Mes
Double Fisted (Prins Thomas Remixes) 12"

West Coast connection in effect on this one: Scotty Coats (took me a second to figure out why name was so familiar - dude was in charge of sales down @ Ubiquity, been receiving his emails for a while now) and Wes the Mes (in my favourite name top 10 now), probably old compadres of Spun and Ben. The duo comes correct with a proper (non-demo) version of their "Double Fisted(1)" track and even get Norwegian disco wizard Prins Thomas to turn in his signature "Disko Miks(2)" of the track. There's actually two Prins Thomas versions on here, the other(3) is super extended with all kinds of funk guitar and instrumentation. Also includes the lo-fi rockin' sound of "R.I.P. Mike Conley(4)."
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
dfa + related / rong + related

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Shocking Pinks
Cutout / Dressed To Please Remixes 2x12"

Heavyweight double 12" pack featuring two big remixes of "Cutout" off Shocking Pinks' DFA debut, plus three new mixes of the non-album "Dressed To Please." Ex-Tussle member Alexis Georgopoulos and compadre Quinn Luke flesh out the drum-centric aspect of "Cutout" on their Expanding Head Band remix(1), then Lee Douglas(2) flips the script completely on his beautiful and hypnotic slow tribal remix (hands down my pick of the bunch here). The second 12" features three deep, dubby instrumental mixes of "Dressed To Please," the most substantial being the Deepchord remix(3), followed by the sidelong Echospace reduction(4) and Nathan Fake remix(5). "Cutout" mixes play at 45, "Dressed" at 33.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
dfa + related / rong + related

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Soft Rocks
Leave Your Earth Behind 12"

cosmic balearic disco from the UK

UK's Soft Rocks have been churning out all sorts of balearic disco goodies for awhile now (including top notch edits), but their latest release on Redux is a little bit different. Though still rooted in the cosmic balearic side of things "Leave Your Earth Behind(1)" has a funky electronic flair to it thanks to wicked bass and snappy drums that chug along. The airy synths and live guitar work keep it out- there enough for all the space cadets and beardo freaks while the Roots Unit remix(2) on the flip pumps it up with old school Chicago style drums for a unique "jackin' balearic" sound. Roots Units' "Good Bye Earth Mix(3)" gives the 12" a nice and mellow landing on some super chill-out slo-motion disco.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
dance + house + new disco + electro + nujazz / rong + related / new disco / cosmic / edits - new arrivals / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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Soft Rocks
The Soft Rocks EP

unique disco edits

The Black Disco label is back with another installment, this time curated by the mysterious Soft Rocks crew. You might recognize their name from their previous balearic/left field edits and releases but the dudes keep it funky this time around (though certainly still a bit odd). Check the warm summer disco vibes on "Spank(1)" and "Back To My Roots(2)," the sleazy funk of "You Never Know When(3)," and the weirdo calypso disco "Bagwan Boogie(4)." Great selections.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
rong + related / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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Woolfy
Oh Missy (In Flagranti Remix) 12"

The latest split label relese from Rong and DFA comes from LA's own Simon James (aka Woolfy) with the first single off his forthcoming album. With previous releases on Rong, Mindless Boogie, and Permanent Vacation, Woolfy is no noob and you can chalk "Oh Missy(1)" up there as another super feel-able, electro disco-rocker. Flipside is taken over by the In Flagranti boys who take the original and tweak the shit out of it in two separate flavors. First you get the hilariously titled "Meat-packing mix(2)" (and if you've ever been to a club in the Meat Packing district in NYC, you can see how this might fit), and also the "Xenon mix(3)" which has their signature new disco thump kinda sounding like Metro Area's "Miura" put through a trashy glam filter.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
dfa + related / rong + related / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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Woolfy
Oh Missy (Whatever/Whatever Remix) 12"

Oh Missy is Woolfy's most catchiest song to date, partly because of the pop hook and also the cool disco new wave groove. It's no wonder the track has been ressurected (originally released in 2005) and is getting lots of remix action (past remixers include In Flagranti). This time around Whatever/Whatever takes a stab at reworking the track(1), doing awesome job with a bad-ass old school house style. The dub mix(2) even throws in some ill italo arpeggios. Should be big with fans of recent DFA and Rong stuff. Also includes the original instrumental(3) as a bonus. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
new disco / cosmic / edits - reviewer recommended / dfa + related / rong + related / cosmic + balearic + rock-ish

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